Selim Talukder from Shahzadpur:

The farmers of Bangladesh Milk Producers Cooperative Union Limited, also country’s largest cooperative-based organization-Milk Vita, on Thursday formed a human chain in front of the Milk Vita’s main gate in Baghabari of Shahzadpur upazila in Sirajganj district demanding rising of their milk price at Tk 10 per liter.

They also set a 10-day ultimatum saying that, they will go for tougher movements, if their demand is not met.

Abdur Razzak, former Chairman of Bangladesh Milk Producers Cooperative Union Limited-Milk Vita, Md. Enamul Haque Nayan, Chairman of Reshambari Primary Milk Producers Cooperative Association Limited and Abdur Rouf, Chairman of Potazia Primary Milk Producers Cooperative Association Limited among others spoke at the event.

At this time, the speakers said that, even though the fascists have left Bangladesh, the associates of the fascists remain in Milk Vita. That is why, despite increasing the salaries and allowances of officials and employees under various pretexts, they are paying the milk price of primary cooperatives only Tk 45 to Tk50. However, they are selling this milk at Tk 100 per liter. Meanwhile, the cost of milk production is constantly increasing due to the continuous rising of cattle feed prices. On the other hand, even though Milk Vita deducts 60 paisa per liter from the price of milk of marginal farmers for improving the breed and treatment of cattle, they are being deprived of those benefits. Similarly, even though Milkvita shares are kept at 40 paisa per liter, the authorities are not issuing quota certificates for them. As a result, the interest of marginal farmers in Milk Vita is decreasing.

Although 200,000 to 250,000 liters of milk are produced daily in the Sirajganj-Pabna milkshed area, only 20,000 liters of milk are being delivered to Milk Vita. As a result, Milk Vita is facing destruction today. This is why, the farmers threatened for a 10-day ultimatum and said that if the price of milk is not increased by Tk10 per liter, milk delivery to Milk Vita will be completely stopped.

After the human chain, members of the Primary Cooperative Society held a protest march on the Bogura-Nagarbari highway, also north side of the Baghabari Baral Bridge.